Bag holding apparatus



Oct. 27, 19 59 A "c. E. SHEETZ 2,910,253

BAG HOLDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1957 -3 Sheefcs-Sheet 1 III lul 62 INVENTOR 63 1 CHARLES E. SHEETZV av L wq A ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1959 c. E. SHEETZ 2,910,253

- BAG HOLDING APPARATUS Filed sept. 16, 1957 I s Sheets-Shee t 2 INVENTOR CHARLES E. SMEETZ -ATTORNEY 1959 c. E. SHEETZ I 2,910,258

BAG HOLDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1957 3 Shets-Sheet s F'IB 5 I INVENTOR CHARLES E. SHEETZ BYW ATTORNEY United States atent BAG HOLDING APPARATUS Charles E. Sheetz, Woodstock, Va., assignor to Food 'Machrnery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif.,

a corporation of Delaware Application September 16, 1957, Serial No. 684,199.

9 Claims. (Cl. 248-101) This invention pertains to bag filling machines, and more particularly relates to apparatus for holding bags in open position during the filling operation.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, efiicient bag holder to hold a bag with its mouth open adjacent the delivery portion of a bag filling machine.

Another object is to provide a bag holder whichfirmly holds the bag in loading position but is capable of quick release to permit the removal of a full bag and the substitution of an empty bag.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which? Fig. 1 is a perspective of a baggingmachine incorporating the bag holder of the present invention.

' Fig. 2 is a plan of. the bag holder, shown disconnected from the machine.

Fig. 3" is a side elevation of the bag holder, with the holder shown in its release position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 3, but with the'bag holder shown in it's bag clamping position.

Fig. 5 is aside elevation, similar to Fig. 3, of a modified form of the bag holder. I

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a secondmodified form of the bag holder.

'Referring now to the drawings wherein similar reference numerals are used to denote the same elements throughout the various views shown, the numeral 9 (Fig. 1) generally indicates a bagging machine mounted in conjunction with an article feed conveyor 10. The machine 9 embodies two feed troughs 11 and 12 each equipped with feed belts 13. The feed belts are adapted to feed the articles to be bagged into a bag B held open adjacent the delivery end of the troughs 11 and '12 by bag holders 14 constructed according to the teaching of the present invention. A tray 15 is mounted between the troughs 11 and 12 and is adapted to, hold a supply of empty bags B within easy reach of the operator", of the machine. Y

The operation of the bagging machine 9, which automatically feeds a predetermined weight ofarticlesinto each bag, forms no part of the instant invention and is fully described in my copending application Serial No. 684,502, filed September 17, 1957, and entitled Drive Mechanism for a Bagging Machine. only to state herein that each bag holder 14 is mounted on a scale beam 16 (Figs. 3 and 4) so that the weight of material deposited in the bag isautomaticallyweighed by-the machine. 4

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the bag holder 14 comprises a rigid rectangular frame 17 having, 'two parallel side plates or bars 18 and 19 connected at one end of the frame by a transverse support plate 20. At the other end of the frame, the side plate 18 is connected to-the upper end of a generally L-shaped bracket 21, While the side plate 19 is connected to a similar bracket 22. A transverse support bar 23 is secured between the brackets 21 and 22. As shown inthe drawings,'. the

several elements, 18 through 23, are connected together by welding, but this showing should not preclude'the connection of these elements by other means, such as rivets or bolts. The frameof the bag holder is connected to the scale beam 16 by bolts 24 (Figs. 3. and 4) extending through holes 25 formed in the horizontal leg portions 21a and 22a ofthe brackets .21 and 22, respectively.

In use, the bag holder is effective to lock side wall portions of the open end of. a bag between two fixed It is necessary abutment. members. 26 and 27 (Fig. 3), carried by the frame 17, and'clamping elements of a clamping'mechariism 28. The abutment 26 is. fixed to the innersurface of the transversely extending frame end plate 20 and comprises an arcuate metal plate 30 which is substantially as wide as the endplate 20 and is. fastened adjacent its u'pperedge to the plate 20. by a plurality ofspaced clips 31 (Fig. 2). At its lower. edge thearcuate, plate 30 is bent in the form of a hook 32 (Fig. 3) which embraces. the lower edge of the plate. 20. .A pair of adjusting screws 33 are threaded through tapped openings inthe plate'20 and bear against one surface of: the plate 3.9; A pad 34 made ofrubber. or, similar non-slip material is fastened by the clips 31x10 theother surface of the plate 30. The facing surface of the pad 34, which faces, inwardly of the frame, is provided with. a plurality of horizontally extending ribs or ridges 35.

The abutment 27 is mounted on the plate 23and corn: prises an arcuate plate 36 fastened adjacent its upper edge to the inner surface of the rear, plate 23 by clips 37 (Fig. 2). A pad 38 (Fig. 3), having ribs or ridges 39.

on its inwardly facing. surface, is fastened tothe plate 36 by the clips 37. and lies adjacent the inwardly facing surface of the plate 36. A pair of adjusting screws 40 are threaded through suitably threaded openings iiithe plate 23 and bear against the surface of the. plate 36,;

The clamping mechanism 28 comprises two identical U-shaped clamping members41and 42(Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which are oppositely disposed with respect to each other and are interconnected, forpivotal movement by pivot pins 43'and 44 (Fig. 2). The" clamp member41 com} prises a transverse. clamp bar 45.-and. two sideplates 46 and 47 which are generally triangular in configuration, as seen in Fig. 3. The sideplate 46 is'pivotallyconnected'to the side frame member. 19, by a pin 48;WhlCh extends through a'suitable opening. in the side plate,46 and is anchored in the member 19. The side plate 47 is similarly pivotally connected to theside member 18' by a pivot pin 49 (Fig. 2). The opposite clampmember 42 is identical inconstructionto the clamp 41; andris provided with a. transverse. bar 50 and triangular side plates 51 and 52. A rod 53 (Fig. 2) connects the plates 51 and 52 and extends through suitable. slots" 54 formed in the frame. members 18and 19. A spring 55, disposed between the side plate 52 and the side frame member-'18, is. connected. between the rod53-rand a pin 56 fiired to the frame-'member' 18,-and. is arranged-to normally urge 'the clamp mechanism 28 toward its release" position'shown in Fig. 3.

The two clamping members'41 and 42 are adapted to be moved to a bag clamping'positionfand locked'in that position by a toggle mechanismmounted on one. side .of

p the frame and consisting of twotoggle links 57;. and 58;

The link.57 is pivotally connected at one end to theside plate 46 by a pivot pin 59-. The otherlink 58 ,ispivotally connected at one of its ends to the side p1ate51-,by a

pivot pin 60.; Theother ends of the two-links 57 anclf V curved end portion 6 of reduced width ergtendingbeyoiid the e: nd r a a A -P it i ac as; overlies the upper edge of the link 57 to provrc lg ;at}

abutment 64 which is adapted to bear against the upper edge of the link 57 when the clamps 41 and 42 are in their clamped relation as illustrated in Fig. 4. It will be noted that in this position, the pin 61 is moved to a position below an imaginary line connecting the pins 59 and 60, thus locking the toggle linkage to maintain the clamp bars 45 and 50 in tight engagement with the pads 38 and 34, respectively.

In the operation of the bag holder, a bag B is opened and is positioned so that the upper edge of one side wall of the bag is between the clamp bar 45 and the abutment pad 38, and the upper edge of the other side wall is between the clamp bar 50 and the abutment pad 34. The plate 62 is then depressed by the operator and the toggle links 57 and 58 move the clamp bars 45 and 50 toward their respective abutments 26 and 27 to compress the facing members 34 and 38 and firmly grip the bag B. The toggle links 57 and 58 are depressed until the pin 61 moves to the over-center position and the abutment portion 64 of the link 58 engages the upper surface of the link 57 whereby the bag holder is locked in its clamped position illustrated in Fig. 4. It will be evident that the pressure with which the bag is held may be varied by adjusting the screws 33 and 40 to change the deflected position of plates 30 and 36.

'When the bag B has been filled, the operator grasps the bag with his left hand and, with his right hand, pivots the plate 62 upwardly. As soon as the links 57 and 58 pass the center position, the spring 55 pulls the rod 53 toward the pins 48 and 49 and snaps the bag holder 14 to its open position illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, most of the elements are the same as those described above with respect to Figs. 1 to 4 and hence are designated by the same reference numerals. In this modification 14a, the frame side members 18 and 19 are replaced by side members 18a and 19a. In addition to slot 54, each side member is provided with a slot 70. The pivot pins 48 and 49 of the bag holder of Fig. 3 are replaced by a rod 71 which extends through the transversely aligned slots 70 and supports the side plates 46 and 47 of the clamp member 41 in the same manner as the previously described rod 53 pivotally supports the side plates 51 and 52 of the clamp member 42. A second spring 72 disposed between the side plate 47 and the side frame member 18:: is connected between the bar 71 and a pin 73 fixed to the side member 18a. In this modification it should be evident that, since the pivot rods 71 and 53 of the clamp elements 41 and 42 are slidable relative to the frame, the bag holder 14a is capable of opening further than the bag holder 14 shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The springs 55 and 72 act to center the clamps 41 and 42 within the frame when the clamps are in their released position.

In themodification shown in Fig. 6, the structure is the same as that shown in Fig. with the exception that the frame side members 18a and 19a are replaced by sidemembers 18b and 19b. The side members 18b and 19b are each provided with an upstanding flange 75 having a vertical slot 76 formed therein. The pins 43 and 44, which interconnect the clamp elements 41 and 42 of the bag holder of Fig. 5, are replaced by pins 43b and 44b (only pin 43b being shown) which extend through the vertical slots 76 in the flanges 75 of the side frame members 18b and 19b and engage the walls of the slots 76 to insure centering of theclamp members 41 and 42 throughout their range of movement. A

The operation of both the modifications illustrated in Figs. 5 and-6 is the same as that described above with respect to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

While the preferred embodiments of the present inven- Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A bag holder comprising a plurality of rigid stationary substantially vertical abutment members having abutment surfaces disposed in spaced opposed relation to each other, clamp members mounted between said abutment members for movement obliquely downward toward and obliquely upward away from said abutment surfaces, spring means urging said clamp members away from said abutment surfaces, and toggle means operatively connected to said clamp members for moving said clamp members downward toward and releasably locking said clamp members in bag holding relation with said abutment surfaces.

2. A bag holder comprising a plurality of rigid stationary substantially vertical abutment members having abutment surfaces in spaced opposed relation to each other, a pair of clamp members pivotally interconnected to each other and mounted between said abutment members for movement downward toward and upward away from said abutment surfaces, spring means urging said clamp members away from said abutment surfaces, and toggle means operatively connected to said clamp members for urging said clamp members downward toward and releasably locking said clamp members in bag holding relation with said abutment surfaces.

3. A bag holder comprising a plurality of abutment members rigidly mounted and having substantially vertical abutment surfaces in spaced opposed relation to each other, a pair of clamp members pivotally interconnected to each other and mounted between said abutment members for movement downward toward and upward away from said abutment surfaces, spring means urging said clamp members away from said abutment surfaces, and toggle means pivotally connected to said clamp members and arranged upon being actuated to move said clamp members downward toward and releasably locking said clamp members in bag holding relation with said abuttion are described herein, it should be noted that various 7 changes may be made therein without departing from ment surfaces.

4. A bag holder comprising a frame, a pair of abutment members rigidly mounted on said frame and ,having substantially vertical abutment surfaces in spaced opposed relation to each other, a pair of clamp members mounted on said frame between said abutment members for pivotal movement relative to said frame downward toward and upward away from said abutment surfaces, spring means urging said clamp members upward away from said abutment surfaces, and toggle means interconnecting said clamp members and arranged upon being actuated to move said clamp members downward toward bag holding relation with said abutment surfaces, said toggle means being movable to an over-center position wherein said clamp members are locked in bag holding relation with said abutment members.

5. A bag holder comprising a frame, abutment members rigidly mounted and having substantially vertical abutment surfaces in spaced opposed relation to each other, clamp members mounted on said frame between said abutment members for pivotal movement relative to said frame downward toward and upward away from said abutment surfaces, one of said clamp members being mounted for sliding movement relative to said frame, spring means operatively connected to said clamp members and arranged to slide said one clamp member relatively to said frame and pivot said clamp members in a direction upward away from said abutment surfaces, and toggle means interconnecting said clamp members for urging said clamp members downward toward and releasably locking said clamp members in bag holding relation with said abutment surfaces.

6. A bag holder comprising a frame, abutment members rigidly mounted on said frame and having substantially vertical abutment surfaces in spaced opposed relation to each other, a pair of clamp members mounted on said frame between said abutment members for both pivotal and sliding movement relative to said frame downward toward and upward away from said abutment surfaces, spring means operatively connected to said clamp members and arranged to slide said clamp members along said frame in a direction upward awayfrom said abutment surfaces, and toggle means interconnecting said clamp members and arranged when actuated to move said clamp members downward toward bag holding relation with said abutment surfaces against the action of said spring means. p

7. A bag holder comprising a frame, abutment members rigidly mounted on said frame and having substantially vertical abutment surfaces in spaced opposed rela tion to each other, a pair of clamp members mounted on said frame between said abutment members for both pivotal and sliding movement relative to said frame downward toward and upward away from said abutment surfaces, guide means on said frame operatively associated with said clamp members and arranged to maintain said clamp members centered between saidabutment surfaces during pivotal and sliding movement of said clamp members, spring means urging said clamp members upward away' from said abutment surfaces, and toggle means interconnecting said clamp members for urging said clamp members downward toward and releasably locking said clamp members in bag holding relation with said abutment surfaces.

8. A bag holder comprising a rigid frame having a 6 I 1 pair of opposed support members, a resilient facing member secured to each support member, and a pair of clamp members mounted on said frame, each clamp member being movable obliquely downward to a clamping posi secured to each support member, a resilient facing mem- 1 ber secured on each adjustable plate in opposed relation to the facing member on the other plate, and a pair of clamp members mounted on said frame, each clamp member being movable obliquely downward to a clamping position in compressing engagement with one of said facing members, whereby a bag disposed between each facing member and its associated clamp member will be clamped therebetween when said clamp member 7 is moved to clamping position.

References. Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,561,306 Anderson July 17, 1951 

